Pencarrow Lighthouse Wellington - CONSERVATION PLAN - December 2009 - Heritage New Zealand
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Pencarrow Lighthouse
Wellington
CONSERVATION PLAN
December 2009
Prepared for the
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
with the assistance of the Department of
Conservation
Pencarrow Lighthouse, looking towards Wellington,
with the Interisland Ferry in the background,
February 2006. (Paul Cummack)
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan
Prepared by Paul Cummack and Helen McCracken with Alison Dangerfield
for
the New Zealand Historic Places Trust / Pouhere Taonga and the Department of
Conservation
December 2009
Cover. A group of people gathered in front of Pencarrow Lighthouse c.1900. (Alexander Turnbull
Library, Kenneth Wilson Collection, F13602-F)
Contents 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Commission 1 1.2 Executive Summary 1 1.3 Management and Legal Status 2 1.4 Acknowledgements 4 2. History 5 2.1 History of Pencarrow Lighthouse 5 2.2 Engineer – Designer - Edward Roberts, R. E. 17 2.3 Engineer - Builder – Edward George Wright (1831-1902) 17 2.4 Chronological Summary of Events 18 3. Description 26 3.1 Setting 26 3.2 The lighthouse 28 4. Assessment of significance 40 4.1 Statement of cultural heritage significance 40 4.2 Heritage inventory 41 5. Influences on conservation policy 43 5.1 Terms of acquisition 43 5.2 Objectives of Owner 43 5.3 Compliance with the Historic Places Act 1993 43 5.4 Compliance with the Reserves Act 1977 45 5.5 Compliance with the Resource Management Act 1991 45 5.6 Compliance with the Building Act 2004 47 5.7 Compliance with the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 48 5.8 Compliance with the Occupier’s Liability Act 1962 48 5.9 Compliance with the Maritime Transport Act 1994 49 5.10 Threats 49 6. Conservation policy 51 6.1 General statement 51 6.2 NZHPT General Policy for Historic Places 51 6.3 Appropriate Conservation Standards - ICOMOS New Zealand Charter 51 6.4 Extent of physical intervention 52 6.5 Interpretation 53 6.6 Future uses 53 7. Building condition and work required 54 8. Future use 59 9. Maintenance 61 10. Bibliography 72 Appendix 1: ICOMOS New Zealand Charter 76
Appendix 2: Cast Iron and its use in New Zealand Lighthouses 81 Appendix 3 - History of the Pencarrow Lantern Room and Light 84 Appendix 4 – Cast Iron and Paint Calculations 89 Appendix 5 - ICC Paint Coatings 90
1. Introduction
‘It would be a great pity to see this landmark go, and I for one should certainly be
sorry to know that it was to be removed’, said a prominent local shipping man to a
‘Post’ reporter today. ‘It has a definite place in the hearts of many skippers and
also, I imagine, with the public. Wellington has come to regard it as a historic
building, and it would be a good idea, I think, for it to be kept as a national
belonging. It is the oldest light in New Zealand, and something should be done to
preserve it….’ Pencarrow Light – Oldest in Dominion - What Shall be its fate -
Use as a Day-Mark, Evening Post, 19 January 1935.
1.1 Commission
1
This report is the result of collaborative research and documentation. Paul Cummack, then of
Studio Pacific Architecture (SPA) was engaged by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
(NZHPT) in 2006, with assistance from the Department of Conservation, to investigate and
comment on the existing condition of Pencarrow Lighthouse, using the report format set out in
the NZHPT ‘Guidelines for Preparing Conservation Plans’.
The NZHPT separately commissioned a history to be included in this document. The history
of Pencarrow Lighthouse was prepared by Peter Cooke, and revised and expanded by Helen
McCracken, heritage consultant. The latter was aided by Emma Meyer and Paulette Wallace,
who undertook research of material held in Archives New Zealand, Wellington.
The plan was substantially updated and revised by Helen McCracken and Alison Dangerfield,
heritage advisor – architecture, NZHPT Central Region. Included in this revision was
additional information on the predicted future maintenance of the building, with an emphasis
on the special construction techniques required for a historic, graphite rich, cast iron
lighthouse in an extremely harsh environment.
Figure 1-1 Photo of Pencarrow Lighthouse with trawler entering the harbour. (Paul Cummack,
January 2006)
1.2 Executive Summary
The original Pencarrow Lighthouse is positioned at the mouth of Wellington Harbour, at the
st
top of the cliffs at Pencarrow Head, and was officially commissioned on the 1 January 1859.
It is of great heritage significance as it was the first permanent lighthouse established in New
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 1
Zealand, and one of the few remaining built structures erected by the Wellington Provincial
1
Council.
An additional Lower Pencarrow Lighthouse was built at the base of the cliffs in 1906, and
Pencarrow Lighthouse was decommissioned when a replacement lighthouse was built at
Baring Head in 1935. Over the following few years all internal equipment was removed from
lighthouse, the light being removed in 1941. This report does not cover the later Pencarrow
lighthouse or beacon.
Pencarrow Lighthouse has been appropriately maintained. The cast iron panels, and the new
paint coatings completed in 1980, when all old surface coatings were removed, have fared
well, considering the severe environment and the propensity of the construction materials to
rust. However there are areas of repair work that are essential to undertake and continue.
o Essential regular protective coatings should be applied. This work should be
implemented by tradespeople with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and work
experience, and with adequate observation. Professional consultation for paint system
selection should continue to ensure a successful and long-term coating solution.
o Secondly, erosion of the ground surfaces around the lighthouse will continue to be of
concern. The ground conditions which promote pooling water will need to be monitored
long term and rectified. The effects on the internal moisture levels and subsequent loss
of integrity of the historic building fabric need to be anticipated.
o Repairs to the material fabric of the lighthouse are essential to undertake as they
become apparent on regular inspection. All parts of the lighthouse building fabric
should be scrutinised for corrosion, damage ingress of water or other deterioration and
steps taken to rectify without delay.
With maintenance items addressed, and with the continuation of a preventative maintenance
programme, Pencarrow Lighthouse will remain as a well preserved structure.
1.3 Management and Legal Status
The Pencarrow Lighthouse and an area of 2044 square metres of land on which it is located,
described as Section 3, Block V, Pencarrow Survey District, Part Proclamation 517577, S.O.
Plan 25401, constitute an Historic Reserve under the Reserves Act 1977. The Pencarrow
Lighthouse Head Historic Reserve is owned by the Crown and control and management is
vested in the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (New Zealand Gazette 1979 p.211). The
Department of Conservation is the administrator of the Reserves Act and has an overarching
responsibility to ensure the reserve is managed effectively.
Pencarrow Lighthouse is registered as a Category I historic place by the New Zealand
Historic Places Trust under the Historic Places Act 1993. The registration number is 34.
The Pencarrow Lighthouse is also listed on the Hutt City Council District Plan as a Heritage
Building and Structure, Category 1, in section 14F, of appendix 1.
The Pencarrow Lighthouse has been recorded as an archaeological site by the New Zealand
Archaeological Association. The site record number is R27/199.
The majority of the remains of the Pencarrow Lighthouse Station (including the lighthouse
keepers’ house built in 1871, and the grave of a lighthouse keeper’s child) are outside the
historic reserve and are on land managed by the Greater Wellington Regional Council
2
(GWRC) as part of a recreation reserve included in the East Harbour Park. Any other
features associated with the lighthouse station that may exist on the coastal margin strip
below the lighthouse are on land owned and managed by the Hutt City Council.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 2
Figure 1-2, Location of Pencarrow Head Historic Reserve (Courtesy: Terralink)
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 3
1.4 Acknowledgements
The authors would like to gratefully acknowledge a number of people who have assisted in
the preparation of this report:
Ann Neill, David Watt, Alison Dangerfield, and Xanthe Howes of the NZHPT for facilitating
information from NZHPT files.
Jim Foye, lighthouse engineer from Maritime New Zealand, for helping identify maintenance
issues on-site.
Ken Belt, lighthouse engineer from Maritime New Zealand, for advice on painting cast-iron
lighthouses.
Paul Cummack, who donated the completed measured drawings, using base information
obtained from an architectural student employment scheme run by the Ministry of Works in
1979.
The following commented on various drafts of this report:
David Watt, area co-ordinator, Central Regional Office, NZHPT
Michael Kelly, heritage consultant
Elizabeth Cox, heritage destinations manager, central region, NZHPT
ENDNOTES
1
Helen McCracken., Register number 34, Pencarrow Lighthouse (Former). Historical narrative. Register
of Historic Places. Completed 2001. (Page 7 – Historical Significance)
2
Simon Duff, ‘Pencarrow Lighthouse Archaeological Assessment; Report prepared to assess the
impact of proposed foundation improvements’ NZHPT, May 2006.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 4
2. History
2.1 History of Pencarrow Lighthouse
Pencarrow Head Lighthouse, or more commonly known as Pencarrow Lighthouse, was New
Zealand’s first permanent lighthouse. For 150 years it has been a feature of the entrance to
Wellington Harbour, and for 75 of those years its light guided shipping into port.
Sometime prior to organised European settlement the headland was occupied by Maori.
Archaeological evidence suggests the existence of a pa on Bluff Point, a promontory not far
from the present day lighthouse. To the east of the headland midden and ovens, terraces
have been recorded as well as karaka groves around Lakes Kohangapiripiri and
Kohangatera. Although there is no evidence for Maori occupation where the lighthouse is
located it can be assumed that the site was valued for the views of the entrance to the
1
harbour and the coastal route connecting Heretaunga (Hutt Valley) with the Wairarapa.
After the arrival of New Zealand Company settlers in 1840 the coastline became a key route
for the surveyors, explorers and pastoralists searching for new land to settle. In 1843 the first
flocks of sheep to be introduced to the Wairarapa were driven around this headland. The new
arrivals were to give the headland a new name. Pencarrow Head was named after
Pencarrow, in Cornwall, England, the home of Sir William Molesworth, a director of the New
2
Zealand Company. It is named as such on Captain Edward Chaffers’ first map of Wellington
3
harbour, dated 1839.
As the infant New Zealand Company settlement of Wellington grew so too did the amount of
4
shipping entering and leaving Port Nicholson. Many mariners, unaccustomed to the hidden
dangers of the harbour and in the absence of detailed charts and navigational aids, struck
trouble off Wellington’s treacherous reefs. By the end of the first year of the infant colony two
5
ships had been wrecked at the harbour entrance for 'want of pilots and a lighthouse.’
However, building a lighthouse was not that simple.
At this time there was considerable debate over who should have responsibility for the
construction and maintenance of lighthouses. The newly arrived settlers believed that they
should have greater autonomy in the running of their affairs. However, the Colonial Office in
England maintained that this was the role of central government through the office of the
Governor. Colonial Secretary Willoughby Shortland did agree that a lighthouse would aid
6
night-time passage into Wellington, but nothing was to come of it. In November 1841, the
New Zealand Company offered to erect a lighthouse on Pencarrow Head at a cost of £1500,
7 8
to be charged against future dues, but little came of the offer. The following month,
Governor Hobson finally gave way to the settlers’ demands and passed the Ordinance for the
Regulation of Harbours. This gave settlers at outports the right to erect beacons and lights.
9
The ordinance was extended to Wellington in May 1842.
In 1842, Wellington settlers raised a public subscription to erect two wooden beacons on both
sides of the harbour entrance. The beacon on Pencarrow Head was described as an open
10
three-sided pyramid, 21 metres high. A timber structure, it was soon demolished in a gale.
By June 1844 another beacon had been built, this time funded by Governor Robert FitzRoy.
11
Nine metres high, it was painted white and surmounted by a red flag. Unfortunately the
beacons didn’t bring an end to the loss of shipping, and the calls for a light continued,
12
especially after 30 people were lost in the Maria off Terewhiti in July 1851.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 5Figure 2-1, Pencarrow Head, Fitzroy Bay [Between 1842 and 1844. Drawn by S C Brees. Engraved
by Henry Melville. London, 1849. E-070-015, Alexander Turnbull Library Wellington.] Note the
beacon on Pencarrow Head.
The construction of the Pencarrow Head Lighthouse
Following representations from members of the Wellington settlement, Governor George Grey
agreed to meet the cost of a lighthouse, and initiated inquiries in England for one to be made
and shipped to Wellington. The Colonial Engineer Edward Roberts R. E. inspected the site in
April 1852, recommending an oil-burning light 10.6 metres off the ground and 122 metres
above sea level. He recommended a ‘revolving white light of the second order [of brightness],
on the dioptric or lenticular principle, or that by which the rays of light from the lamp are
13
collected by lenses instead of being projected by reflectors.’ A cast-iron tower was
recommended as a deterrent against Wellington’s known earthquake risks. The Governor
approved this proposal on 6 May 1852. Edward Roberts’ Pencarrow lighthouse plans, which
14
had been modified over time, were sent to England in March 1853 for quotations.
In the meantime a temporary keeper’s house had been built. This building, erected probably
in 1852 or early 1853, served as a temporary lighthouse, the light and reflectors being in an
15
enlarged front window. George White Bennett, a settler who farmed at Lowry Bay and who
had previously worked as a clerk in Wellington was appointed the first lighthouse keeper. The
lighthouse keeper’s family shared a two-roomed cottage, described as ‘a miserable shed’. In
a heavy squall, wind and rain came in from all quarters and ‘it rocked and shook so much as
to frighten the keeper and his family out of it’, at which point they retired to a covered dugout
16
(with a stove) created for this eventuality.
Differences of opinion over design, site and cost between the General and Provincial
Government delayed the project. A Select Committee hearing in July 1854 looked into the
question of lighthouses throughout New Zealand, giving Wellington’s first priority. It also
recommended control of harbour lights (as opposed to sea lights, such as proposed for
Stephens Island in Cook Strait), be vested in Provincial Governments. The 1852 Constitution
Act had previously ruled out Provincial Governments erecting sea lights and, while the
Wellington government was delighted to accept ‘the entire responsibility of having erected the
17
lighthouse’, central government held on to the belief that the action was bordering on illegal.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 6Notwithstanding what lawmakers in Auckland thought, Superintendent Dr Isaac Featherston
seized the initiative and his Provincial Government finally ordered the permanent lighthouse in
England in 1857, based on Roberts’ design. The original cost estimate had been £2600
(including a new keeper’s cottage), but Wellington’s Superintendent had been prepared to
18
borrow up to £4,000 to include spare parts, freight and erection. The lighthouse was to be
cast in iron in an octagonal shape, 4.42 metres in diameter at the ground. The light room was
6.25 metres above the ground, and the structure 10.36 metres in height overall. A bedroom
for the duty keeper was to be built into the tower above the ground-floor workshop (though
this was soon dispensed with). An internal ladder provided access to the lamp room, with a
balcony outside the glass for cleaning.
Tenders were assessed in London by Roberts and the New Zealand agent John Gladstone,
19
and accepted from Cochrane & Co of Woodside Iron Works, Dudley, for £2,435. Under
Roberts’ supervision the lighthouse was largely complete by the end of December 1857. The
firm prepared to send it to New Zealand – along with Edward G Wright to supervise its
erection. On 21 June 1858, 480 packages containing the kitset lighthouse arrived in
Wellington, per the barque Ambrosine. The 61 tonnes of parts were offloaded at Rhode’s
20
Wharf, then reshipped (on a local brigantine Caroline) to the Heads in September. The
heavier parts were dragged up the hillside on a tramway by steam-driven winch (though
bullock teams had originally been envisaged doing this, on an enlarged track). This is a very
early use of steam haulage in New Zealand. The existing beacon was dismantled (it occupied
the proposed lighthouse site) and a temporary flagstaff erected with white flag and red ball to
warn mariners. The weather (and therefore progress) was good, such that by 20 October the
Provincial Government advised the General Government that the light would be ready on 1
21
January 1859. The Board of Trade was also notified (to alert ‘home’ vessels). Edward
Wright stayed in New Zealand, rising to prominence in Canterbury (especially with the
22
Christchurch Gas Company) until his death in 1902.
Much festiveness surrounded the inaugural illumination. Members of Wellington Assembly
and guests were taken out to the Heads on the steamer Wonga Wonga, enjoying music,
dancing and drink. Steamers were soon to surpass windjammers in carrying New Zealand
trade, and Wellington had wanted to become the ‘acknowledged centre for steam service in
the country.’ The light was lit at nightfall on New Year’s Saturday, 1 January 1859, competing
23
only with a full moon. With much provincial pride, it heralded further development of the
harbour – a deep-water wharf and quay-side reclamations following in the 1860s.
Once completed, the light was visible for 48 kilometres in ordinary weather (spanning Cook
24
Strait, well into Cloudy Bay). The entire structure, weighing 61 tonnes, was bolted to an
25
octagonal ring buried 80 centimetres into the ground and covered with masonry. It operated
a system of eclipsing every two minutes (a small ‘eclipsing screen’ orbited the lamp on an
arm, breaking the beam every two minutes before it entered the lenses). This clockwork
revolving apparatus was removed in September 1859, leaving the beam a fixed one. Its cost
26
had been over £5,700 though a later account has it at £6,422. The structure was painted
27
white to also serve as a visual daytime beacon.
The Early Years: Wellington Provincial Government
The first principal keeper of the new Pencarrow Lighthouse was Mary Bennett, widow of
George Bennett (who had drowned in 1855). Mary Bennett had taken on the role of
lighthouse keeper following her husband’s death, making her the first woman in New Zealand
to do so. When she was given principal responsibility for the new lighthouse, she became
New Zealand’s first keeper of a permanent lighthouse. Mary Bennett was aided by a male
assistant, William Lyall. Mary Bennett’s role is believed to have ended in 1865 (though her
28
son William also served the light (as assistant) from 1880-85).
For its first four years the Wellington Provincial Council administered the lighthouse. In 1862
the Marine Board Act transferred control of the harbours and shipping in New Zealand from
the Colonial Secretary to a chief Marine Board. This board was also responsible for the
construction and maintenance of lighthouses on the coast. Responsibility for the Pencarrow
29
Lighthouse was passed to the board in 1863. The Wellington Province’s role with Pencarrow
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 7ended in 1865, when the lighthouse was sold to the General Government (which had moved
30 31
its seat to Wellington). New lamps were installed four years later.
Shortly after the transfer, it was found that the land on which the Pencarrow Lighthouse stood
was still owned by Maori, as it had been awarded to them by Colonel McCleverty following the
adjustment of land claims. In the 1870s Major Charles Heaphy, commissioner for native
reserves, undertook the negotiations to acquire the land for the government and to settle the
rent for the period that the land had already been occupied.
32
The day to day running of the lighthouse.
The lighthouse keepers’ living conditions were to improve with the construction of two new
dwellings designed in the Colonial Architect’s Office, headed by William Clayton. The contract
to erect the cottages was awarded to Thomas D Scoular and R Archibald of Scoular &
Archibald and specified that the dwellings were to be completed by 31 May 1871. Scoular &
Archibald were employed by the government to build a number of buildings, the most notable
33
being Government Buildings in Wellington.
Figure 2-2, Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottages and (most likely) the schoolhouse at Pencarrow
Lighthouse [ca.1910]. The dwellings were built in 1871 and demolished in 1963. F -112305-1/2,
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. Part of Hart, Roger: Photographs of Somes Island and other
subjects (PAColl-5479, ATL).
Although located across the harbour from the settlement of Wellington, the lighthouse was not
easily accessible. For many years supplies (including oil for the lighthouse and coal for
domestic use) had to be brought by boat, which could be delayed for weeks on end by
adverse weather. Once landed, the supplies would either be stored in the landing store or
would be hauled up the cliff via a small tramway (the remains of which can still be seen
today). They were then dragged across to the required location by horse. Everything
brought onto the site required a degree of planning. In 1911 the keepers constructed a trolley
with wooden wheels to convey the assistant keeper’s piano from the landing store to the foot
34
of the tramline, and from the top of the tramline to his house. Food supplies were
35
augmented by the keeping of hens, cow(s) and even a pig, as well as vegetable gardens.
From at least the 1930s onwards the keepers made a weekly trip by horse along the coastal
36
track to Eastbourne to collect supplies and mail. Tanks were built to hold water.
The remoteness of the lighthouse station meant that schooling of the keepers’ children had to
be provided on-site in a purpose built school house. It is not known when the school was built,
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 8but it was certainly open by April 1899 when it was reported that the inspector of schools had
37
visited to examine the children. The number of students attending the school was boosted
by children from the nearby sheep stations. For example, at the beginning of the new term in
September 1910 there were 10 children attending, three children from the keepers’ families,
38
one from Edward Riddiford’s station at Orongorongo and six from ‘Mr Lee’s at Wainui’.
A sad reminder of the presence of children at Pencarrow is the grave of one of the lighthouse
keeper’s children located just north of the station. The grave, surrounded by a picket fence, is
marked by a plain wooden cross with the words ‘In memory of Evelyn Woods, 9 March 1896,
6 years, 11 March 1896.’ The current picket fence may date to August 1928 when there is a
39
record of the keepers constructing a small picket fence around the grave. In 1949 the
Marine Department received an enquiry from a H.G. Lawrence who was researching the
history of the eastern shores of Wellington. He had come across a reference to an entry in
the Evening Post recording the death of an infant daughter of Sidney and Sarah Woods aged
40
7 months and 28 days and wanted clarification on the child’s name and age. In 1984 the
NZHPT received a further enquiry regarding the identity of the child buried at Pencarrow. The
Registrar General confirmed that an ‘Evelyn Violet Amy Wood, aged 7 months’ died on 9
41
March 1896.
Daily maintenance of the lighthouse involved keeping the all-important lenses clean and the
light mechanism working. Initially the illuminant used was the relatively new colza oil
42
(rapeseed oil). This was changed to paraffin when doby burners were introduced. Over 40
years of burning oil to illuminate the light took its toll on the lantern. By 1891 the glass panes
of the lantern had assumed a yellow amber colour, and it became necessary to obtain new
panes from England. These panes of plate glass (1.25 centimetres thick) arrived in
43
Wellington by S.S. Doric 10 March 1892.
Figure 2-3, Group gathered in front of Pencarrow Lighthouse, Wellington
[ca 1900]. F-136029-1/2, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. Note the
erosion of the ground beneath the door and the ventilator on the first floor.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 9In January 1907 the illuminant was again changed, this time to kerosene, when an
incandescent apparatus was installed. When the latter was introduced it was lauded by the
Principal Lighthouse Keeper who reported that ‘It is a very brilliant light and a great
improvement on the light shown from the old lamp and the consumption of oils is less than
44
half a gallon and one point per night.’ However, a few days later the keeper’s
correspondence records that they had problems maintaining the lamp at full power. The
problems continued. At one point the feed valve broke and stopped the flow of oil to the
condensing tubes and rendered the light useless. For two nights the keepers had to use an
45
old paraffin lamp. Later that year they had to use an old kerosene lamp.
Less regularly, but of no less importance, was the maintenance brought about by the harsh
environment. Rust was one of the main concerns. In 1912 the keepers requested a new
door for the lightroom and new iron shields for the outside of the ventilators as they had
46
rusted. Seven years later, in 1919, it was reported that the revolving cowl and ventilators of
the tower needed repairs. The iron floor of the tower basement was rusted through in places,
and rats gained access to the tower through holes. The iron balcony door and the dormer
panes were rusty and in bad condition. The tower needed chipping clear of paint where the
47
coating was cracked, and red lead was used to paint over where the iron was exposed.
Painting both the tower (as it was referred to in the correspondence and journals of the
keepers) and the surrounding buildings was a common task at the station.
The harsh environment, and particularly the windswept nature of the site, brought other
problems. In 1902 the Principal Keeper reported that they were making asphalt paths around
the dwellings and laying a strip around the tower, the foundations of which had been
48
exposed. In March 1908, the keepers requested 30 yards of coconut matting for the
49
lighthouse floor to cut out the drafts that made the lighthouse bitterly cold. The daily journals
record the efforts made to protect the dwellings from the harsh winds. In 1910 the keepers
requested an assortment of native shrubs to plant on the south side of the Principal Keeper’s
dwelling, in the hopes that they would grow quickly and break the southerly wind. In 1913 five
chimneys were destroyed in a gale. In the following year the keepers tried erecting break
winds to protect the gardens.
Another threat was the risk of lightning striking the tower. In 1919 the keepers requested that
‘a lightning conductor to be put on the tower, there is not one at present and this being an iron
tower it is somewhat dangerous. Keeper got a nasty shock the other night while pumping oil
50
into the container.’
Although wind was a major factor there were also days when fog obscured the cliff-top light
from shipping. When the nearly constant sea temperature is warmer than the fluctuating
51
temperature of the rocky sea cliffs, a southerly wind will bring sea fog to the top of the cliffs.
In response, an audible guncotton fog signal was established beside the lighthouse in 1898
with a range of 11-12 kilometres). This was eventually replaced in 1927 by a compressed-air
52
diaphone signal.
Visibility was rarely impaired at sea level, so a second light or beacon was built at the bottom
53
of the cliffs by the Wellington Harbour Board in 1906. Construction of the lighthouse, known
54
as Lower Pencarrow, required blasting the top of outlying rocks. The new tower was
positioned so that both lighthouses could provide a day mark to locate the linear extent of the
dangerous rocks along the south coast of Wellington. Approaching shipping could then time
their turn around the rocky reefs of Sinclair Head and Thom’s Rock in Cooks Strait. Refer
figure 2-4 below.
From lighthouse to day marker
From as early as the mid 1920s there had been discussions regarding the closure of the
Pencarrow Lighthouse Station in favour of a new light elsewhere. Growing suburbs on
Wellington’s hills led to increasing light pollution and the risk of Pencarrow’s fixed beam being
indistinguishable to ships seeking the entrance. Also the location was now considered too
close to harbour-mouth hazards, such as rocks and reefs, and larger faster vessels were
starting their run-in for the entrance from further out in Cook Strait. With the idea that
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 10Pencarrow would eventually be replaced, maintenance on the dwellings was reduced to what
was absolute necessary. According to Helen Beaglehole in her book Lighting the Coast, by
the late 1920s there was little consensus among the ship owners, government officials and
the Wellington Merchant Service Guild as to whether a new light was required. The latter,
along with small boat owners, favoured extending the range of the lower Pencarrow
lighthouse and retaining the original upper Pencarrow light. However, the ship owners
55
wanted a new light.
Figure 2-4, The relative position of the lighthouses ensures the safe bearing and course of a
ship around the south coast of Wellington. When Pencarrow Lighthouse (Former) is to the right
or south of the lower Pencarrow lighthouse, (As in sketch ‘B’) ships will miss the rocks on
Wellington’s south coast.
In 1932 the Marine Department finally commissioned a replacement light to be situated at
56
Baring Head, and from which the Karori Rock light to the west could also be sighted. The
Baring Head light was lit for first time on 18 June 1935, the day after Pencarrow was
57
decommissioned. However, the lighthouse at Pencarrow Head was to be maintained as a
day marker and some personnel stayed on at Pencarrow to operate the fog horn.
The light apparatus remained in the lighthouse until the early years of the World War II. In
1941 concern was raised that the firing of the guns from the recently constructed coastal
battery at Godley Head, Banks Peninsula, would damage the delicate light apparatus of the
Godley Head Lighthouse. In addition, the position of the lighthouse was considered a
hindrance to the operation of the guns. It was decided to demolish the lighthouse and build a
temporary structure lower down Godley Head. Instead of using the Godley Head apparatus,
the old second order lantern from Cape Foulwind was erected on a high concrete base to
house the second order fixed lens from Pencarrow Head. The light apparatus at Pencarrow
was removed at the end of 1941, and the new light (albeit temporary) first shone at Godley
58
Head on 8 January 1942. The current location of the Pencarrow light apparatus is uncertain
at this time. (See Appendix Three for more information).
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 11Figure 2-5, View of the lighthouse at Pencarrow Head [ca 1920s] F 3851-1/2, Alexander Turnbull
Library, Wellington
Maintenance of the Pencarrow lighthouse station was kept to a minimum and practically no
59
maintenance was carried out during World War II. By the mid 1940s the keepers were
complaining about the living standards at the station. One particular complaint was that the
wash house where the bath was located was 18 metres from the dwellings. The wash house
60
was unlined and draughty and ‘almost precludes bathing during the winter months.’ In 1946
it was decided that establishment of the light at Baring Head would not enable the Marine
Department to do away with the Pencarrow fog signal. The Public Works Department, who
were asked to carry out an inspection of the dwellings, reported that ‘the existing dwellings
are worth renovating and repairing to give a ‘reasonable standard of comfort for the men in
61 62
charge of Pencarrow.’ Repairs were eventually undertaken during 1947 and 1948.
Maintenance of the tower was also kept to a minimum. In 1951 the Principal Keeper reported
that the woodwork of the frames in the middle and bottom floors of the tower were rotten and
letting in water. In the lightroom the floor on the inside of the doorway which opens on to the
63
balcony had rusted through. The bottom floor was also rusted through. In 1957 the roof of
64
the tower received a coat of paint along with a number of other buildings on the site. A year
later a request was sent for paint for the spare house and tower. The keeper also reported
that the tower needed ‘a good clean up inside as it’s not been looked after for some time now.
For as you are aware the later keeper did let the station go and it’s up to me to get the place
65
cleaned up.’
One item of maintenance that featured in correspondence was the previously mentioned
lightening conductor (described as a 2 inch steel cable running from the tower to the beach, at
the tower end). In February 1948 the keepers reported that a piece was missing from the
dome down to the front of the tower where the steel cable had rusted and broken away from
the tower. The cable went down the cliff to the beach. At about the high water mark the
66
cable had rusted right through and they could not find any sign of the earth plate. For at
67
least the next three years this situation remained unchanged. Interestingly, images of the
lighthouse taken at this time (or perhaps slightly later) show the lantern partially boarded up,
68
as well as the tower windows covered. It is not known when this occurred.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 12Figure 2-6 ‘Pencarrow Lighthouse Keeper, Mr. R.G. Jones in
front of the lighthouse.’ Evening Post 27 December 1958.
EP/1958/4452, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. Note
the ‘boarded up’ lantern windows and ventilators on the first
floor.
Figure 2-7 ‘‘Pencarrow Lighthouse Keeper, Mr. R.G. Jones,
having a meal with his wife and two children,’ Evening Post
27 December 1958. EP/1958/4452/a, Alexander Turnbull
Library, Wellington.
In 1953 the Hutt Valley Drainage Board was given approval to enter the lighthouse reserve
69
and to construct an access roadway. In 1956 the Drainage Board needed to widen the road
to lay pipes. As a result a section of the rail (trolley track) needed to be removed altogether.
The keepers were concerned that this would leave a big drop and make it almost impossible
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 13to load coal from the bottom. It was proposed that the track at the south of the station could
easily be made wider with a bulldozer and the track could be cut right up to the house,
70
meaning that supplies could be driven right up to the station. It is not known whether this
happened.
Pencarrow Lighthouse - historic place
In February 1959 a plaque was erected on the site, marking 100 years since the light first
shone. It was unveiled by the Minister of Marine, Hon. W. A. Fox, and the event was recorded
by the New Zealand Broadcasting Service. The ceremony was attended by a number of
guests including A. C. Bennett, the grandson of the first lighthouse keepers. The event also
celebrated the site being the first in Wellington to be officially marked by the recently formed
National Historic Places Trust. The lighthouse was recognised as an historic place under the
Historic Places Act 1954.
In that same year the Wellington Harbour Board replaced the fog horn mechanism with an
automated device using the existing fog horn tower. There was now no longer any need to
man the Pencarrow station. The Marine Department began the process of disposing of the
site. By August 1960 the last keeper had been transferred from the station, the buildings
secured and the land and buildings were either transferred or in the process of being
71
transferred to the Lands and Survey Department. The lighthouse was to be retained as a
day marker.
In 1963 all the station buildings were demolished. This included the cowshed, fowl houses,
two timber frame dwellings, wash house and tank stands. Material was either carried away by
72
contractors or burnt and buried on site.
Without the resident keepers the lighthouse became an easy target for vandalism. A report
completed in 1965 found that four windows were broken at the top of the tower. The main
73
door had been burnt off and missing. The floor was rotten in places, and the pit (or weight
74
well) housing the original chain gear had been uncovered. The NHPT plaque was also
75
missing from the base of the tower outside the main entrance. In response it was decided
to secure the lighthouse both from the threat of vandals and in the interests of public safety. It
was recommended that the lens panes be fixed with 1/8” iron plates which were to be painted
white. The main entrance doorway was to closed with 3/16” iron plates on 2”x2” angle irons
and painted white. The openings of the well housing (both top and bottom) were to be
covered. It was considered that the handrail fence and posts on the path to the tower were
beyond repair and should be removed from the site. Finally the two concrete water tanks
were to be broken open at bottoms and allowed to drain out, so that they would not be a
76
danger to the public. This work was probably carried out in the latter half of 1966 and early
77
1967. It may have been at this time that the ventilators were removed from the first floor.
Historic images of the lighthouse dating to at least the early 1900s show ventilators on two of
the first floor ‘windows’ as well as ventilators for the lamp room. The ventilators still appear in
78
images as late as 1959. Today the ventilators on the first floor have become windows.
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust 1966 - today
In 1966 the Marine Department finally decided that the tower was no longer required, as it
was considered that there were enough aids in navigation available in the approaches to
Wellington Harbour to safely guide vessels in and out. The Marine Department had
approached the NHPT as early as 1960 to take on the lighthouse. However, the latter was
uncertain of the title and status of the lighthouse and the surrounding land. The NHPT was
happy to take on responsibility for the tower as long as the land remained in the ownership of
79
the Crown. Finally, in November 1966, the offer of the Marine Department to transfer
ownership of the Pencarrow Lighthouse to the renamed New Zealand Historic Places Trust
80
(NZHPT) was accepted. The Minister of Marine consented to the transfer the following
81
month.
When the NZHPT was first established it had no specific policy (or indeed money) to acquire
82
properties. Instead it had initially focused on recording and placing plaques. In 1959-1960
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 14the NZHPT made its first acquisitions. However, it was not until the mid-1960s with the
commissioning of the Waimate Mission House restoration, the acquisition in 1966 of
Pompallier House, Russell, Old St Paul’s Wellington, and Hurworth, New Plymouth, that the
NZHPT began to acquire and develop a portfolio of properties. Between 1965 and 1975 the
NZHPT acquired most of its properties. The transfer of Pencarrow Lighthouse to the NZHPT
83
was during this period.
Figure 2.8, Maintenance work on Pencarrow Lighthouse - Photograph Taken by
Ian Mackley [ca 7 March 1980], EP/1980/0706/19A, Alexander Turnbull Library,
Wellington.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 15One of the main issues the NZHPT faced with its new responsibility at Pencarrow was the
high level of maintenance required to protect the tower from the weather and the ongoing
vandalism. Not long after the NZHPT took over management the lighthouse was sealed
against entry. NZHPT correspondence from the period 1967 to 1974 details the various
efforts to weatherproof the building. At the end of 1974, the building was once again broken
84
into and it was discovered that the tower roof was leaking.
In 1975 the Ministry of Works undertook an inspection of the lighthouse. The tower was
found to be in a ‘very bad state of repair’ including the main door having been ripped of its
85
hinges. It was eventually decided that the Ministry of Works would undertake the
necessary repairs. The work proposed included repairs to the concrete base, repairs to
spouting and panels, repair of steelwork (doors, floors etc), complete sandblasting of the
86
structure and painting. However, the work did not go to plan. In the middle of 1976
concerns were raised that the Ministry of Works was not carrying out the work to the
specification. It is difficult to ascertain what work was carried out from the records held by the
NZHPT. There is a hand written note on the NZHPT file which suggests that the ground floor
was concreted at this time, and steel plates placed on top. The note makes the comment that
87
the ground floor ‘originally had wooden chocks supporting steel beams.’
By the middle of 1977 the NZHPT wrote to the Ministry of Works stating that the progress of
the repairs was unsatisfactory. In response a new restoration programme was drawn up by
the Ministry of Works and Development. The restoration programme involved considerable
repair and replacement of fabric. The work included repairing doors, installation of new floor
plates (top and ground floor), a new galvanised balustrade utilising some of the old
88
components, installation of new windows and a new ladder, reglazing of the lighthouse
lantern using 12mm armour tough glass, new down pipes, sandblasting and finally painting.
To enable the work to be completed the access road to the lighthouse had to be upgraded.
The entire work, completed in December 1980, was estimated to cost $27,000 – but the final
cost is not known.
At the same time the restoration programme was being carried out, moves were underway to
gazette the historic reserve. In about 1975 a joint report was prepared by the Department of
Lands and Survey and the Wellington Regional Planning Authority on the proposed
Pencarrow Regional Park. Part of this report considered the land status of the lighthouse
89
reserves. Finally in 1979 the lighthouse was included in a historic reserve of 2044 square
metres, (Section 3, Block V, Pencarrow Survey District). The remaining land of 14.3158
hectares was set aside as a Recreation Reserve. The NZHPT was appointed to control and
90
manage the historic reserve.
Since the 1980s the NZHPT has undertaken a regular painting programme. In 2000 a
condition report was prepared by Salmond Architects, which identified a number of repairs
91
required. In the following year Strait Engineering repaired the ladder, reglazed the lantern
sections and undertook further repairs to the doors. An annual programme of external
maintenance has been carried out since 2001.
In February 2008 it was found that the roof had corroded to such an extent that the copper
roofing and selected rafters had to be replaced. At the same time, the iron ceiling and
weather vane were repaired. Wall panels were also repaired and replaced where necessary.
The work was undertaken by by Arfi Architectural Roof & Façade Innovations,
On 1 January 2009 the NZHPT celebrated Pencarrow Lighthouse’s 150th anniversary. A
series of events was held over Wellington Anniversary weekend, including a reunion of the
family of Mary Jane Bennett, the opening of on-site information panels by Chris Finlayson,
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, and a walk and guided tour.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 162.2 Engineer – Designer - Edward Roberts, R. E.
Not a great deal is known about Edward Roberts, R. E., the engineer who designed the
Pencarrow Lighthouse. According to F. W. Furkert, Roberts was a civilian member of the
Royal Engineers who was sent to New Zealand in 1847 to undertake work for the military -
primarily the construction of barracks. In 1850 he won a competition with his plans to rescue
the first Hutt River Bridge. He was later awarded the contract to design the second Hutt River
Bridge when the first was destroyed by the 1855 earthquake.
In January 1851 he was seconded to the New Zealand Government as Colonial Engineer. In
that year he prepared plans for improving Wellington’s harbour, including the first government
reclamation. In 1851 he began preparing plans for a lighthouse at Pencarrow Head. In
February 1852 he called for tenders for the Wellington gaol to be built at Mount Cook. In
1853 he sent his plans for the Pencarrow Lighthouse to England to obtain quotes on the
necessary materials. In 1856 he returned to England, this time on the Provincial Government
(est.1853) payroll. Roberts supervised the manufacture of the lighthouse. However, the
construction of the lighthouse in New Zealand was undertaken by E. G. Wright (see below),
who came to New Zealand especially for the purpose. It is not known what happened to E. G.
Roberts after this time, although it is assumed that he returned to his Royal Engineer duties
92
and never returned to New Zealand.
2.3 Engineer - Builder – Edward George Wright (1831-1902)
Edward George Wright was born in England in 1831. In 1847 he joined Fox, Henderson and
Company, a firm of engineers and contractors and in 1853 he was appointed engineer in
charge of the construction of Rome’s gasworks. He later worked in England on the naval
dockyards.
In 1857 Wright and his family emigrated to New Zealand following his engagement by the
Wellington Provincial Government to oversee the construction of the Pencarrow Lighthouse.
When the lighthouse was completed in 1859, Wright took up the position of director of
harbour improvements and public works at Hawke’s Bay. In 1862 he moved to Christchurch
setting up in business as a private engineer and contractor. In that same year Wright help
found the Christchurch Gas Coal and Coke Company, and, as its first engineer, was
responsible for the switch from oil to gas for lighting Christchurch. He was the company’s
chairman from 1877 until his death in 1902. Wright was also responsible for building many of
Canterbury’s roads and bridges, as well as the West Coast Road, and the Ashburton to
Rangitata section of the South Island main trunk line.
Wright became a large landowner in the Ashburton area and in 1879 became the member of
the House of Representatives for Coleridge (1879-81) and, later, Ashburton (1881-84, 1890-
93 and 1896-99). He was also involved in a number of local bodies and other organisations,
including a member of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, the Ashburton County Council, North
Canterbury Education Board and the Christchurch Drainage Board. He died at his
93
Windermere property on 12 August 1902.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 172.4 Chronological Summary of Events
DATE EVENTS COMMENTS SOURCE
June/July Modification of door – ventilation
January 2009 Celebration of 150 years since
construction
Feb 2008 Roofing maintenance contract Work undertaken by Arfi Architectural
Roof & Façade Innovations, Hartmut
Copper roofing and corroded Reichelt, MD
rafters replaced; iron ceiling & wall
panels repaired and where Scaffolding braced off lantern balcony
necessary replaced, diagonal
braces repaired, vane repaired Stairs covered while work undertaken
Sept 2007 Wash down & surface preparation Year 1 PMS
Resene ArmourZinc 110 to bare
iron
Resene Armourchlor HB-P
intermediate coat
Resene Polymeric AV-8 to spot
primed area
Resene Polymeric AV-8 full
topcoat
May 2007 Contract PMS for 6 year
maintenance programme
Feb 2007 Geotechnical assessment by A G Assessment and options for correction
Mahoney, Connell Wagner of ground water issues
Jan 07 Paint coating assessment by John Recommended coating system for
Kilby, Corrosion Consultant lighthouse
Mid 2006 Last maintenance delayed.
Feb 2006 Adhesion Tests undertaken. Top coat has little adhesion, and is Paul Cummack,
delaminating with tape only. SPA
Dry Film Thickness readings. Typically around 1100 to 1250 µm. Bill Koelman
Waiting table of test areas.
2004 Timber ladder removed and Now missing
placed in NZHPT Antrim Office
May 2004 Washed down. Spot primed with Spot paint rust spots only. Year 4. PMS cyclic
chlorinated rubber system. ReseneTranscoat, Armourchlor, then maint.
AV8
July 2003 Washed down. Spot primed with Spot paint rust spots only. Resene Year 3. PMS cyclic
chlorinated rubber system. Transcoat, Armourchlor, then AV8 maint.
June 2002 Washed down. Spot primed with Spot paint rust spots only. Resene Year 2. PMS cyclic
chlorinated rubber system. Transcoat, Armourchlor, then AV8 maint.
June 2001 Exterior ladder repaired, Glazed Includes both top door, & entrance door. Strait Engineering
lantern sections, doors??.
June 2001 Washed down. Recoated with Quantities. (June 2001-PMS) Year 1.
chlorinated rubber, AV8
68 litres, Resene AV-8, for recoats. PMS cyclic
Partial second coat of AV-8 then maintenance
‘Mr Blobby’ painted on lighthouse. 8 litres lumbersider, for concrete.
Ian Bowman.
Blobby paint stripped then third (or 8 litres transcoat for patching cast.
nd
2 ) coat of AV-8. Total, 250-375 8 litres of Armourchlor for patching cast
µm
8 litres smooth surface sealer for cast
c1994 Spot prime rust treated with Epoxy Dimet zincilate 880, Amerlock 400. Year 6. J.H.
system.
Cyclic maint.
(Building not washed)
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 18DATE EVENTS COMMENTS SOURCE
c1993 Spot prime rust treated with Epoxy Dimet zincilate 880, Amerlock 400. Year 5. J.H.
system.
Cyclic maint.
(Building not washed)
c1992 Spot prime rust treated with Epoxy Dimet zincilate 880, Amerlock 400. Year 4. J.H.
system.
Cyclic maint.
(Building not washed)
c1991 Spot prime rust treated with Epoxy Dimet zincilate 880, Amerlock 400. Year 3. J.H.
system.
Cyclic maint.
(Building not washed).
c1990 Spot prime rust treated with Epoxy Dimet zincilate 880, Amerlock 400. Year 2. J.H.
system.
Cyclic maint.
(Building not washed).
May 1989 Waterblasted to 3000PSI. Spot Spot primed with Inorganic Zinc Year 1. J.H.
sand blasting of rust; spot prime Dimetcote D9. (zincilate 880) 50-70µm
rust treated, then top coat to DFT; Dimet (Ameron) Amerlock 400AL Cyclic maint.
whole of light, interior and exterior. 100µmDFT. John
Then entire surface coated with Henderson
Amercoat 234 thinner, then Amercoat
234, 65-75µm DFT. Chris Cochran &
. T Slinn inspector.
DFT at end of job ‘just less than
1000µm.’ Report
May 1989
May 1989 Waterproof layer coated over path Emken Industries Emerclad 1989 Spec, J.H.
1982 Classified as an Historic Place Registration number 34 NZHPT. 2001
under the Historic Places Act 1980
McCracken Helen.
1980 All paint removed by sand Tender–No Paint types Resene letter.
blasting. Subsequently???
31 Jan 1989
Glazing removed and new glass 2 coats Amercoat86 Polymeric Primer 2
installed coats Amercoat 99 High Build Vinyl. NZHPT 12016-015
One coat Amercoat 234 Gloss vinyl
acrylic
1979 Historic Reserve gazetted Historic Reserve of 2044 square metres, NZG 1979, p.211
(Section 3, Block V, Pencarrow Survey
District) set aside. (Remaining land of
14.3158 hectares set aside as
Recreation Reserve). NZHPT appointed
to control and manage the reserve.
1978 3mm of paint on lighthouse. Chris Cochran
Report.1978.
NZHPT 12016-015
1974-1980 Major restoration work undertaken Work included repairing doors, NZHPT 12016-015
by Ministry of Works. installation of new floors, repair of
balustrade, installation of new windows
and a new ladder, reglazing of the
lighthouse, sandblasting and painting.
1974 Report of vandalism Tower broken into. Tower roof Oct/Nov 1974,
discovered to be leaking. NZHPT 12016-015
December 1970 – Failure of weatherproofing Further weatherproofing undertaken by NZHPT 12016-015
January 1971 Ministry of Works. Previous method of
repair thought to be unsuccessful;
proposal made to make the lighthouse
weather tight with a metal sheeting.
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 19DATE EVENTS COMMENTS SOURCE
February 1969 Weatherproofing Weatherproofing undertaken by Ministry NZHPT 12016-015
of Works Carpentry Workshop Staff,
Trentham.
1966-1967 Repairs made after vandalism and Building sealed against entry. Upper AAPR W3282
general deterioration of level windows shuttered in two cases
lighthouse. and a further two given metal hoods to M1 8/45/14 ANZ
allow air circulation and still prevent NZHPT 12016-015
entry of weather and access to interior.
November 1966 Transfer from the Marine NZHPT 12016-015
Department to NZHPT
1965 Report of Vandalism Four windows broken at top of tower. AAPR W3282
Main door burnt off and missing. Floor
rotten in places. Pit housing the original 8/45/14 ANZ
chain gear uncovered. NZHPT plaque (18 June 1965)
missing from the base of the tower
outside the main entrance.
1964 Fire at Pencarrow Report of fire started at base of door. AAPR W3282
8/45/14 ANZ
1963 Pencarrow Lighthouse Station All buildings demolished (cowshed, M1 8/45/11 ANZ
closed down fowl houses, two timber frame
dwellings, wash house, tank stands).
Material either carried away by
contractors or burnt and buried.
1960 Transfer of Land from Marine NZHPT. 2001
Department to Lands and Survey
(Crown Lands Department) McCracken Helen
February Centennial Celebrations and Plaque erected on the site to mark 100 M1 8/45/14/1 ANZ
recognition by National Historic years since the light first shone.
1959 Places Trust
Recognised as an historic place under
the Historic Places Act 1953.
1958 Fire at Pencarrow Wash house destroyed by accidental M1 8/45/11
fire.
1957 Maintenance Schoolhouse, harness shed, top store Outward
room, ammunition hut and roof of old Correspondence
tower painted. 1956-59 (ML-
Pencarrow 3/6)
1947-1948 Renovations and repairs to Work included new concrete water tank, M1 8/45/11 ANZ
dwellings and associated work on dwellings including (installation
buildings/structures of bath and wash house in each,
concrete coal bunkers), old cow shed
demolished, two stall cow bail built, old
landing store on beach demolished and
new store built, new hen house for
principal keeper, work on school
1941-1942 Lens removed from Pencarrow The lens at Pencarrow was dismantled AAPR 8/45/14
Lighthouse by the Public Works Department and W3282 ANZ
installed at Godley Head. M 8/30/13 prt. 2,
The light first shone at Godley Head on ANZ
8 January 1942.
1935 Light ceases operation. Replaced by Baring Head lighthouse. NZHPT. 2001
McCracken Helen
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 20DATE EVENTS COMMENTS SOURCE
1933 Maintenance Hinges replaced on tower door Daily Journal, –
1933-1934, ML-
Pencarrow 1/5, ANZ
1931 Maintenance Lenses and lantern panes changed Daily Journal, 24
Nov 1930-21 Dec
1931, ML
Pencarrow , 1/ 2,
ANZ (12 December
1931)
1931 Maintenance New blinds fitted on lantern panes Daily Journal, 24
Nov 1930-21 Dec
1931, ML
Pencarrow , 1/ 2,
ANZ (6 January
1931)
1928 Fire accidentally started on edge ‘Keepers spent nearly 3 hours beating at M 1 8/45/15 ANZ,
of reserve the fire which was got under control (25 March 1928)
within less than 100 yards from the oil
store.’
1927 Explosive-type fog signal ceases NZHPT. 2001
operation.
McCracken Helen
1916 Addition to school Built by Principal Keeper ‘will be a great Outwards
improvement.’ Correspondence
1898-Dec 1920, ML-
Pencarrow 3/1
1916 Station upgraded to third grade Upgrade was requested by the keepers Outwards
(17/3/1916) because extra workload Correspondence
(same as Godley Head). Agreed to by 1898-Dec 1920, ML-
Public Service Commissioner Pencarrow 3/1
(13/4/1916). Keeper to receive a yearly
allowance of £10.
1914 Landscaping Concrete laid at the at the back of the Outwards
dwelling houses and break wind erected Correspondence
around the gardens. 1898-Dec 1920, ML-
Pencarrow 3/1, 1
December 1914
1907 Incandescent Apparatus installed The illuminant changed from paraffin to George Tanner,
29 January 1907 kerosene.
M1 8/45/14/1 ANZ
1906 New lighthouse or beacon built at Built by the Wellington Harbour Board. NZHPT. 2001
the base of Pencarrow. Required the blasting the top off
outlying rocks. McCracken Helen
Outwards
Correspondence
1898-Dec 1920, ML-
Pencarrow 3/1 (30
June 1906)
1898 Explosive-type fog signal begins Explosive cotton-powder fog signal George Tanner,
operation. established on cliff below lighthouse. 11
July 1898. M1 8/45/14/1 ANZ
NZG 1898, p.1057
Pencarrow Lighthouse Conservation Plan 2009 Page 21You can also read
